Adelaide utility Graham Johncock is set to miss Friday night’s AFL clash with St Kilda because of a back injury.

Johncock has not trained all week and was again missing during Adelaide’s match-eve session on Thursday.

The veteran appears long odds to front against the Saints at AAMI Stadium in a match Crows defender Michael Doughty says is crucial for his club.

The fifth-placed Crows enter the game after a bye, while the eighth-placed Saints have just a six-day break following their away thrashing of Gold Coast.

“If you don’t do your recovery right, it’s a challenge,” Doughty said on Thursday of six-day breaks.

“Obviously, everyone has got their own scientists and try and recover as quick as they can.

“But the team that can recover quicker and get themselves set for the next game has obviously got the advantage.”

However, the experienced backman said while Adelaide rested, the Saints collected invaluable confidence by winning on the Gold Coast.

“It’s a hard one to measure. They have been up in the Gold Coast and played a very good game of footy so they would be confident,” he said.

“The confidence factor versus us having a week off – it’s line ball, isn’t it?

“I’d prefer our group to have the week off and get ready for this week.”

Adelaide, the surprise packet of the season, are seeking to post their ninth win from 11 matches – a certain platform for a return to finals.

But Doughty said the early-season success didn’t prompt a resetting of goals during the bye.

“You talk about the first 10 weeks and what we have achieved, but it’s only a starting point,” he said.

“This group is pretty determined to keep improving throughout the rest of the year.”